Brewery construction.



No. 737,453. PATENTED AUG. 25,'1903. A. L. NEUBERT & S. T. WIEDENBBCK.

BREWERY CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 4. 1901.

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UNIIEI) STATES- Patentea August 25, 190e.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARMIN L. NEUBEnr AND sIEGMUND T. wIEDENEcK, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BREWERY CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,453, dated `August 25, 1903.

Application led February 4,1901. Serial No. 45.842. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, ARMIN L. NEUBERT and SIEGMUND T. WIEDENBECK, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImpi-ovements in Brewery Construction, of which the following is a specication.

Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of breweries, and particularly to beer-storage houses therefor.

The object of the invention is to reduce the cost of a storage-house by providingasystem of storage-tanks which will enable the brewer to dispense with the heavily constructed floors usually employed for supporting the tanks, reduce the height of his storage-house, and render it only necessary to provide storagehouse walls of sufficient strength to support the roof of the building.

A further object is to reduce the space to be refrigerated within the storage-house without cutting down the storage capacity.

A further object is to provide a system of storage-tanks that will not require a storagehouse of special construction or one having walls of sufficient thickness to sustain a great weight, but can be set up in any building or one having suitably-insulated walls.

The invention consists generally in providing a series of upright tanks or vats supported upon suitable foundations, each tank being divided by horizontal partitions into several compartments or chambers.

Further, the invention consists in providing improved connections or fittings, whereby the contents of one tank or compartment may be transferred to another tank or compartment.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a verticalV section of the storage-house and one of the tanks. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the interior of the house. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the tanks.

In the drawings, 2 represents a suitable foundation, 3 3 the side walls of the building, and 4 a roof supported thereon.

5 5 are vertical walls of hollow tile separated by air-spaces from the walls 3 3. These air-spaces, in connection with such material as building-paper, asbestos,coatings of pitch or tar, thoroughly insulate the walls of the building, preventing the cool interior from being affected by atmospheric changes and enabling the brewer to maintain a cool, uniform temperature within the building. A suitable insulated ceiling is provided, cousisting, preferably, of rows of tiling or brick 6 and layers of paper or asbestos 7, all supported upon suitable I-beams 8. A store-` house for breweries is usually provided with thick heavy walls capable of supporting the heavily-constructed floors whereon the storage-tanks are arranged. These tanks are placed in rows upon the several floors of the building, there being usually three series or systems of tanks, the chip or clarifying tanks being located at the bottom or basement of the building, the storage-tanks on the oor above, and the fermenting-tanks on a second floor above the storage-tanks. The tanks are of large capacity and a nurnber of them are required in the storage-department of a brewery, and the floors and walls of the storage-house must be very heavily built to support the weight of the illed tanks. The thick Walls and heavy iioors of the building necessarily increase its cost, and the employment of several floors necessarily adds to the height of the building, to the floor-surface to be kept clean, and the space to be refrigerated.

The primary object, therefore, of our invention is to provide a series of receptacles for beer supportedrin rows on the foundation of the building, each receptacle being 4divided into independent compartments or chambers one above the other, the upper compartment forming a fermenting-tank, the middle compartment a storage-tank, and the lower compartment a chip or clarifying tank. In Fig. 1 we have shown receptacles of this description, each being formed, preferably, as shown by the figure in section, of two concentric cylinders 8 and S", separated by an air-space which insulates the inte rior of the receptacle from the room wherein it is located. This receptacle we divide into a fermenting IOO tank or'compartment 9, a storage-tank 9, and a chip-tank 9". flat horizontal bottom or plate 11, separating the fermenting from the storage-tank, and beneath the plate 1l, separated therefrom by an insulating air-space, we prefer to arrange a second plate 12. The plate 1l is provided on one side with a depression or gutter 13, near which inthe wall of the tank isa valve 14. The top of the fermenting-tank is preferably open, there being a space of four or iive feet between it and the ceiling above. The top of the tank, however, may be closed by a suitable cover, if preferred. The storage-tank or central compartment of the receptacle is provided with a vent or air pipe 15, a test-valve l, a manhole 17, and is separated from the clarifying-compartment by plates 1S and 19, spaced from each other and preferably arched to prevent the bottom from being depressed by the weight of the contents of the tank above. We prefer to provide an I-beam 19 between the plate 12 and said arched, bottom. The plate 18 is preferably provided with a gutter similar to the one described with reference to the plate 1l, and a valve near-the bottom of the tank 9 permits the liquid to be drawn therefrom. The chip or clarifying tank at the bottom is equipped in a similar manner with a vent-pipe, testvalve, manhole, and discharge-valve, and is preferably provided with a dished or concave bottom formed by two plates 2O and 21, separated from each other by an air-space and having a central washout-opening 22, normally closed by a cap 23. We prefer also to provide a discharge-valve 14a in the concave bottom of the chip-compartment, so that two streams of the liquid may be drawn from the tank at the same time incase it is desirable to draw off the beer to the cooler and kegs rat the same time. It is also more convenient sometimes to attach the pipe to the valve 14 in the wall of the tank instead of to the one 14u in the bottom, or vice versa. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the tanks on the foundation of the building; but I prefer to provide a series of legs 24, arranged in rings or circles beneath the tanks and permitting access to the discharge-valves and the Awashout-openingsv in the bottom of the lower or chip compartments. The receptacles are arranged in parallel rows a suitable distance apart and sufficient space is provided between the receptacles in each row to allow the operators to pass freely between them. The receptacles which we have shown will take the place of those that are ordinarily arranged in the basement and upon the twosucceeding floors above, and as in our improved construction the different receptacles for the beer are supported one upon another, all intermediate iioors being dispensed with, it is desirable to provide means whereby the operator can easily have access to the valves of the several compartments for the purpose of We prefer to provide a- 'other suitable means.

transferring liquid from one compartment to another in the same tank or from a compartment in one tank to a compartment in another tank. We, therefore, provide galleries o r corridors 25, arranged between the rows of tanks at points, preferably beneath the discharge-valves therein and supported onv the walls of the tanks by brackets 26 or by These galleries or corridors extend the full length of the rows of tanks and communicate with the basement and with each other by suitable steps 27. The operatorpassing along the upper gallery has convenient access to the fermeuting-tank on the lower gallery, to the valves and manholes leading from the storagetanks, and on the ground or basement floor has access to the chip-tank either for drawing out the liquid, washing out the tanks, and removing the chips or placing them therein. shown in Fig. 2, we prefer to provide a nipple 28 near the bottom of each fermenting-compartment, through which the yeast may be drawn from the tank, said nipple being normally closed by a cap 29.

In Fig. 3 we have shown a slight modification in construction, which consists in employing a single wall 30 for the tank and dispensing with the lower plates of the doubleV bottoms, separating the several tanks of each series. We have also shown holes 3l in the floor of the galleries or corridors through which al suitable hose-pipe 32 maybe passed to conduct the contents of one compartment to another. The beer is usually taken from the fermenting-tank and conducted through the pipe 32 and the valves 14, that may be connected therewith, to the central storagetank. From this point the liquid is usually conveyed to the lower or chip tank and there subjected to the clarifying process before being drawn off to the cooler or to the kegs. When preferred, the liquid, by means of the hose-pipe connection, may be transferred from the compartments of one tank to those of another in the same or a different row.

` We have shown the tanks made of metal and having continuous walls from the top to IOO IIO

the bottomybut it will be understood that.

wood maybe employed in the construction of the tanks, and that each compartment or chamber maybe made separately and placed one above the other to form each upright receptacle. The receptacles will be arranged in rows, the number of rows and the number of receptacles in each row depending, of course, upon the capacity of the brewery and the size of storagehouse required. As the storage-tanks are placed one above the other and all intermediate VIioo'rs are dispensed with the space t-o be refrigerated or kept cool will be much less than when the storagehouse is constructed in the ordinary manner.

The absence of the usual iioors at intervals through the building will also render the storage-house much easier ,to be kept clean,

besides the great saving effected in the .first cost of the building. We have shown the storage-receptacles arranged within a building having insulated walls; but the system may be used successfully in a building where the insulating construction has been omitted. In other words, our improved storage system may be set up and operated in any building that will serve as a protection to the appatus from the weather.

While the preferred form of receptacle has insulated walls and each tank has a double or insulated bottom, we do not confine ourselves to the use of this construction, as the form shown in Fig. 3 may be adopted, and we may prefer to use dat plates for the top and botton of the chip-tank invplace ot' the arched and dished plates that we have shown and described.

We regard the style of valves, their fittings, and connections as unimportant and subject to change to suit the convenience or preference of the brewer, it being desirable simply to provide'snch attachments for each tank that will permit the operator to conduct the beer from one tank to another in the same receptacle or from one tank to another tank in a nearby or distant row.

In various ways the details of construction may be modified by any one skilled in the art without departing from our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a storage-house for breweries, an upright receptacle having a continuous outside wall from top to bottom, suitable plates dividing the interior of the receptacle horizontally into aseries of compartments, the upper forming a fermentingtank, and the intermediate and lower compartments forming respectively storage and chip or clarifying tanks, the bottom of the clarifying-tank being provided with a washoutopening, test-valves provided in the side walls of said storage and clarifying tanks, discharge-valves provided in the walls of said receptacle and leading respectively to said tanks, suitable pipe connections for said valves through which the material in said receptacle may be conducted from one tank to another or from one receptacle to another, and suitable supports on the outside wall of said receptacle whereby convenient access may be had to said tanks and valves.

2. In a storage-house for breweries, an upright receptacle consisting of two concentric cylinders with a space between them, double oors or bottoms dividing said receptacle horizontally into independent compartments and insulating them from one another, the upper forming a fermenting-tank and the intermediate and lower forming, respectively, storage and chip or clarifying tanks, discharge-valves provided in the wall of said receptable leading to said tanks, suitable pipe connections through which the material may be conducted from one tank to another, and manholes provided in the wall of said receptacle permitting access to said storage and said chip tanks, for the purpose specilied.

3. In a storage-house for breweries, an npright cylindrical receptacle, plates or oors dividing the same horizontally into independent compartments, the upper forming a fermenting-tank and the intermediate and lower forming, respectively, storage and chip tanks, the bottom of said storage-tank being arched and the bottom of said chip-tank being dished, an I-beam provided within said storage-tank between its bottom and the bottom of said fermenting-tank, suitable valves provided in the wall of said receptacle leading respectively to said tanks, and pipe connections for said valves, substantially as described.

4. -Inv a storage-house for breweries, having insulated vwalls and ceiling, a series of upright receptacles cylindrical in form having open tops and divided by horizontal partitions or floors into independent compartments, the upper forming the fermentingtanks, the next lower the storage-tanks and the' bottom compartments of the series being adapted to receive the chips or clarifying material, said receptacles being arranged in parallel rows with spaces between them, valves provided in the walls of said receptacles leading to said tanks respectively, manhole-openings provided for said storage and said chip tanks, galleries or passages provided between the rows of receptacles near the bottom of said-tanks and permitting convenient access to said valves and said manholes, and suitable pipe connections provided for said valves, whereby the liquid may be conducted from one tank to another in the same or another receptacle, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with a building having comparatively thin insulated walls and an insulated ceiling, of a series of open-topped upright tanks arranged upon a suitable foundation in parallel rows at intervals therein and spaced one from another and extending up to a point near said ceiling, horizontal doors dividing the interior of said tanks into independent compartments, the upper forming fermenting, the bottom clarifying and the intermediate storage compartments for beer, valves provided in the walls of said tanks near said floors, distributing pipes or tubes adapted to be connected to said valves for transferring the contents of one compartment or one tank to another, and gallery-doors supported horizontally between the rows of tanks below the valves of the upper and intermediate compartments,whereby convenient access may be had to said valves and tanks, substantially as described.

6. A. storage-ho use for breweries having insulated walls and ceiling, in combination,with an upright receptacle divided by horizontal partitions into independent compartments, the upper compartment having an open top and being adapted to receive the fermenting liquid, the compartment next below forming a storage-tank, the lower compartment of the IIO series forming the clarifying-tank and having a manhole through which the chips may be insertedand removed, a washout-opening and valve provided in the bottom of said chiptank, discharge-valves provided in the wall of said receptacle leading respectively to said tanks, and adjustable connections for said valves whereby the liquid in one tank may be drawn out for delivery into another, for the purpose specified. 4

7. An upright receptacle for beer having its interior divided by horizontal floors or plates into independent tanks or compartments,said floors being provided near the walls of said receptacle with depressions or gutters, and discharge-valves provided in the wall of said receptacle and having their outlet-openings on a level with or below the bottom of said gutters, substantially as described.

8. A tank for stock-houses for beer having av continuous, insulating, outside wall from top to bottom and subdivided horizontally into a series of three subtanks and a walk supported on the outside of the wall of said tank on a-plane below the bottom of each subtank, and valved outlets, at the bottom of said subtanks, above said walks, substantially as described.

9. A tank for stock-houses for beer having a continuous insulating outside wall from top to bottom and made up of a plurality of subtanks arranged one above the other with the wall of one supported by the walls of the tank ,next below, test-valves provided in the side walls of the lower subtanks, valved outlets at the .bottom of said subtanks, and'suitable supports provided outside said tank whereby convenient access may be had to said s ubtanks and said valved outlets, substantially as described.

l0. A tank for stock-houses for beer made up of a number of subtauks arranged one above the other with the wall of one supported bythe wall of the tank next below, means for withdrawing the contents of each subtank, means of-aecess to each tank, and a walk arranged for` easy approach to the operating parts of each tank, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 31st day of January, 1901.

ARMIN L. NEUBERT. 1 SIEGMUND T. WIEDENBECK.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, M. C. NooNAN. 

